| 释义 |
verve|vɜːv|
[a. F. verve, of obscure origin; in OF. (from 12th cent.) the sense is ‘caprice, fancy’.]
1. Special bent, vein, or talent in writing. Now rare or Obs.
1697Dryden æneid Ded., Ess. (Ker) II. 216 If he be above Virgil, and is resolved to follow his own verve, (as the French call it,) the proverb will fall heavily upon him: Who teaches himself, has a fool for his master. 1756Gray in W. Mason Mem. (1807) II. 119 You will not expect therefore I should give you any account of my Verve which is at best..of so delicate a constitution. 1783H. Walpole Let. to W. Mason 8 Nov., One of my most fervent wishes has long been that you would exercise more frequently the verve that is so eminently marked as your characteristic talent. 1878Smiles Robt. Dick 412 He had a strong poetic verve.
2. Intellectual vigour, energy, or ‘go’, esp. as manifested in literary productions; great vivacity of ideas and expression. (Common from c 1870.)
1803Beddoes Hygeia x. 35 Many such processes..are carried on with as high a verve or as true fervour as ever accompanied poetic fiction. 1818Lady Morgan Autobiog. (1859) 233 There is Madame de Genlis,..approaching her eightieth year, full of verve, and announcing her ‘Mémoires de Dangeau’. 1872Morley Voltaire 327 He..launched forth during the rest of the meal with his usual verve and fanciful extravagance of imagination. 1879M. Pattison Milton 172 That thorough enjoyment of the labour, which is necessary to give life and verve to any creation, whether of the poet or the orator. 1894A. Birrell Ess. v. 56 Cumberland tells the story with the irresistible verve of falsehood.
3. In general use: Energy, vigour, spirit.
1863‘Ouida’ Held in Bondage iv. I. 87 There isn't one half the verve among you new people there was in my young time. 1885M. E. Braddon Wyllard's Weird I. 250 Such a man, not too young nor yet too old,..full of verve and enjoyment of life. 1893Vizetelly Glances back II. xxiv. 48 Thackeray's ‘Mahogany Tree’, which..[Mayhew] gave in his deep bass voice with uncommon verve. |